Pre Season Preparation

25 July 2006 00:00

Cardiff Blues squad today trained at Rest Bay Beach in Porthcawl as part of the pre season training programme.

Rob Howley was in charge of the rugby training on the beach as the players enjoyed the sunshine and practised their ball handling skills. Holidaymakers and family's enjoying the summer break looked on as the whole squad practised in the blistering heat.

The boys then had a chance to cool down in the sea, but they were not going to be given an easy ride with Fitness Coaches Trystan Bevan and Dan Baugh around.

There were sprinting sessions with the players running in to the sea then wading through the waves past Trystan and Dan before sprinting back to shore. It was a gruelling session but a good change for the players to get away from the Hensol Training Camp.

This week the players have also been visiting The Royal Welsh Show in Powys. The players helped out with coaching sessions, and signed autographs for youngsters throughout the day. Following successful visits to Pontypridd's Party Ponty, Cardiff's Tesco Kids Festival and the Blues Family Fun Day at the Arms Park the summer events tour is going from strength to strength.

Xavier Rush, the new Captain of the Cardiff Blues commented. "It's my first time in the Royal Welsh Show and seeing people from all over Wales coming to one place to enjoy the events is wonderful. It's also great to see so many of our supporters here as well and it's always fun to play tag rugby with the kids and help out with the coaching."

"These events are a tremendous opportunity for our players to meet the supporters. We have had great support last season breaking the Celtic League record attendance twice and the feedback we have received from the fans on the tour is fantastic. Our new shirts and merchandise by Canterbury of New Zealand are selling really well and we have been especially encouraged by our season ticket sales, with many supporters upgrading from a Blues Card to a full Season Tickets. The hard work by our Future Blues Development Officers has also been received very well throughout the region and our summer camps are fully booked with many young fans travelling down from Powys and Pontypridd to take part." Said Gwydion Griffiths Cardiff Blues Media and Marketing Officer.

The events tour will move on to The Big Cheese in Caerphilly from the 29th to 30th of July, The Big Bite in Pontypridd from the 4th to 6th of August, the Vale of Glamorgan Show in Fonmon Castle on 16 August and the Merthyr Show in Cyfarthfa Castle on the 28th of August.

In addition to all these events the players will also be helping out in the Future Blues summer coaching camps which offer children the opportunity to develop basic rugby skills and to stay active over the summer. The camps have proven to be extremely popular with young supporters and are now sold out.